Question

The Arya Samaj movement had been started by__________________-
A. Swami Dayanand
B. Devendranath Tagore
C.Swami Vivekananda
D. Keshub Chandra Sen

Answer 1

Hint: The Arya Samaj was the largest religious organization in western and northern India. It is organized in local samajas (“societies”) that had representatives who were elected to provincial samajas and then selected to an all-India samaja. Each local samaja elects its own officers in a democratic manner.

Complete answer:
Arya Samaj or "Noble Society") is an Indian Hindu reform movement of people who believed in the singular god concept and encouraged values and practices based on the beliefs within the authority of the Vedas. The Samaj was founded by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswathi on 10 April 1875 in Bombay. Members of the Arya Samaj opposed the worship of idols saying that it is a similar concept to materialistic behaviours and unwanted pleasures. They were the first Hindu organization to introduce proselytization in Hinduism.
After laying the foundation for the concept of Veda driven beliefs, Dayanand his efforts to reform orthodox Hinduism between 1869 and 1873.He started Gurukuls (Vedic schools) which taught Vedic values, culture, Satya (virtue) and Sanatana Dharma (the essence of living) and provided separate education to boys and girls based on ancient Vedic principles. The Vedic school system had anhatread to relieve Indians from the ideologies of British education at the time. Students were given free meals, lodging, clothing and books and the discipline was strict. It also helped in female education and intercaste marriage; started missions, orphanages, and homes for widows; established multiple schools and colleges. From its beginning it became an important factor for the growth of Indian nationalism. It has been criticized, however, as overly dogmatic and militant and as having exhibited an aggressive intolerance toward both Christianity and Islam.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Even though Arya samaja is praised for its calm and approach of wisdom, It has also been criticized over the dogmatic and militant way of living and exhibiting an aggressive intolerance toward both Christianity and Islam. The concept of singular god leading to the toxic idea of a singular religion and brutally criticizing others which may have created hatred between people of different religions.